What Is the Most Listened to Genre of Music? Global Trends You Didn't Expect

The top genre worldwide (no surprise here...)

Drum roll, please... The most listened to genre of music in the world today is Pop. Yup. Good ol’ catchy, radio-friendly, danceable pop.
But wait — before you yawn, there's more to it.

According to multiple global streaming reports (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, etc.), pop consistently ranks at the top across most countries. And no, it’s not just Taylor Swift and Harry Styles — pop is a shape-shifter. It blends into everything: electronic beats, rap flows, R&B smoothness, even a sprinkle of indie vibes sometimes.

Why is pop so dominant?

• It’s accessible – simple lyrics, repetitive hooks, polished production.

• It evolves fast – absorbing trends from other genres like a sponge.

• It has global reach – think BTS, Bad Bunny, Dua Lipa… people sing along without even knowing the language sometimes.

And yeah, okay — maybe some pop songs sound kinda same-y. But that formula? It works.

Hip-Hop and Rap: the genre that’s taken over younger ears

Pop may rule overall, but when you zoom into Gen Z and younger Millennials, Hip-Hop and Rap come dangerously close — and in some regions (like the US), they’ve actually overtaken pop.

Think of artists like Drake, Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, Megan Thee Stallion… and that’s just scratching the surface.
And don’t even get us started on TikTok. That platform is basically a rap-hit-making machine.

Subgenres and crossovers

• Trap and Drill have exploded (especially in the UK and parts of Europe).

• Latin Trap and Reggaeton also lean heavily into rap structures.

• Many pop hits now include a rap feature — because it sells.

Once considered underground, rap has become a mainstream pillar. It’s raw, expressive, and unapologetically real (most of the time).

Other genres that are massive — but more regional

Latin music

In Latin America, genres like Reggaeton, Bachata, and Regional Mexican are huge. Artists like Bad Bunny, Peso Pluma, and Karol G pull numbers that rival global pop stars.

Fun fact: Bad Bunny was Spotify’s most streamed artist three years in a row (2020–2022). Not “most streamed Latin artist” — most streamed artist. Period.

K-pop

The K-pop wave is no joke. What started as a regional phenomenon turned global real quick. BTS, BLACKPINK, Stray Kids… they’re dominating charts in the US, Europe, and beyond.

K-pop blends pop, hip-hop, electronic, and R&B — with choreography, visuals, and fan loyalty that’s on another level.
Ask any ARMY, and they'll tell you this isn’t just music — it’s a lifestyle.

EDM and Dance

Still huge in clubs, festivals, and late-night gym sessions. While EDM isn't as mainstream as it was in the early 2010s (David Guetta era, anyone?), it's far from dead. Artists like Calvin Harris, Marshmello, and Tiësto still rake in billions of streams.

So... what defines the "most listened to" genre anyway?

Streaming numbers? Concert attendance? Social media buzz?

Usually, streaming data from platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music sets the benchmark.
But here's the twist: genres bleed into each other so much now that it's hard to pin things down. Is a song by The Weeknd R&B, pop, or synthwave? (Answer: probably all three.)

And algorithms? They don’t care. They feed you what you like, regardless of label.

Final thoughts: popularity is fluid — but pop still reigns

To sum it up:

• Pop is still #1 globally — thanks to its flexibility and mass appeal.

• Hip-hop/Rap is a close second and leads among younger listeners.

• Regional genres (Latin, K-pop, Afrobeats) are exploding and going global.

• Genre borders are getting fuzzier every year.

So the next time someone asks, “What’s the most listened to genre of music?” — you can say pop… but know there’s a lot more rhythm behind that answer.

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Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

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